ARRL General Bulletin ARLB042 (1999)

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ARLB042 FCC Says Telephone Numbers Optional for ULS
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ARRL Bulletin 42 ARLB042
From ARRL Headquarters
Newington CT July 9, 1999
To all radio amateurs
SB QST ARL ARLB042
ARLB042 FCC Says Telephone Numbers Optional for ULS
The FCC has clarified that Amateur Radio applicants using the
Universal Licensing System don't have to provide a telephone number
or e-mail address as long as they provide a valid US mailing
address. But the Commission has yet to provide a convenient way for
ULS electronic filers to get around having to supply a telephone
number. The clarification was contained in a recent FCC order that
addresses various issues for reconsideration in its ULS proceeding.
The FCC says it considers it ''reasonable'' to request telephone
numbers and e-mail addresses but that the data will be optional for
hams.
As currently configured, the ULS still requires applicants to
provide a telephone number in order to register, but not an e-mail
address. An FCC spokesman told the ARRL recently that applicants
lacking a telephone number could use a business telephone, the
telephone number of a close friend or relative, or just fill in the
field on the electronic form with zeros.
When the FCC implements the Universal Licensing System for the
Amateur Service August 2, registrants will be required to supply a
Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN--typically your Social Security
Number) in order to register and be asked to supply a telephone
number. The paper FCC Form 610--being phased out in favor of the new
Form 605--already requests a daytime telephone number. Applicants
without Internet access can register on the ULS using a paper Form
605, available from the FCC.
The question of whether or not telephone numbers that have been
provided to the ULS will be made part of the public licensee
database is ''still being reviewed,'' an FCC spokesperson said this
week. Current information on the FCC Web site suggests that
telephone numbers provided to the ULS will be available in the
public ULS records.
ULS registration is required in order to receive FCC services in the
future. To register, visit http://www.fcc.gov/wtb/uls/ and click on
''TIN/Call Sign Registration.''
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